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Sparks Fire Head Coach Lynne Roberts After Two Seasons
Confirmed
In Short: The Los Angeles Sparks have fired coach Lynne Roberts after two seasons.
The Los Angeles Sparks announced on Friday that they have fired head coach Lynne Roberts after two seasons.
Roberts, who was hired from the University of Utah in November 2024, went 37-51 in her tenure and missed the playoffs both seasons, extending the team's postseason drought to six years.
Special advisor Farhan Zaidi expressed gratitude for Roberts' commitment and determination, noting that her efforts were evident throughout the team's final game.
The Sparks finished the season with a 16-28 record, the fourth-worst in the league, and had notable losing streaks during the season.
Roberts acknowledged the challenges of her tenure, citing injuries and changes within the organization, including the recent trade of star player Diana Taurasi (Plum) to Phoenix.
Despite the losses, Roberts maintained that the team fought hard and never lost the locker room's support.
The Sparks wasted no time in making their decision, firing Roberts just hours after their season finale against the Golden State Valkyries.
The team's decision comes amid speculation about a major rebuild, with the Sparks set to have two lottery picks this year to start the process.
Roberts had expressed confidence in her position before the season finale, but the team's performance in the final game, including a costly technical foul, may have influenced the decision.
The Sparks' quick action signals a shift towards rebuilding, focusing on younger players like Chelsea Gray and a potential draft pick.
The team's president, who has been in the role for only four months, will now face the challenge of finding a new coach and guiding the franchise through a significant transition period.
What this adds
The Sparks' decision to fire Roberts was swift, occurring just hours after the season finale.
The team's rebuild will likely focus on younger players and draft picks, signaling a shift in strategy.
What's confirmed
- The Los Angeles Sparks have fired coach Lynne Roberts, the team announced Friday.
- "We are grateful to Lynne for the commitment and determination she brought to the role, which was evident all the way through our last game last night," Sparks special advisor Farhan Zaidi said.
- Roberts, who was hired from the University of Utah, went 37-51 in her two seasons in charge, and the Sparks missed the playoffs both times, extending their postseason drought to six seasons.
- Midway through this season, as injuries and losses mounted, the Sparks pivoted once again by trading Plum to Phoenix for a package highlighted by the Mercury's own first-round pick in this season's draft and Monique Akoa Makani.
What's still developing
- For too long, the Sparks have been searching for quick fixes rather than building a long-term vision.
- Late on Thursday, after the Sparks blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead to the Golden State Valkyries in their finale, Roberts was asked if she'd done enough to remain in her role.
- Asked about her tenure before Thursday's season finale, Roberts said: "I think we've had two tough years of injuries, and I'm not trying to blame anything on that, it's just the reality. There has been a lot of change. Our president's been here... four months. So just again, so much change."
- Only hours removed from LA’s season coming to an end on Thursday night, the Sparks fired Roberts on Friday morning, as reported by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
- “I’m proud of our culture in terms of these guys play their asses off, they do,” Roberts explained.
- Before Thursday’s season finale, Roberts told reporters that she believed she had done enough to remain the team’s head coach next season.
- Plum, an unrestricted free agent, was traded away amid concerns that she would not re-sign with the Sparks, though Plum herself did not publicly refute that.
- The Sparks were 7-5 with Plum in the lineup and 8-8 on June 21, which was the last time Plum played in a Sparks uniform.
- ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne reported that the Sparks have decided on Roberts’ future.
- The Los Angeles Sparks had a disappointing 2026 season that ended with some big decisions ahead.
- Speculation has swirled over whether the Sparks would make a change at head coach after two straight seasons without a playoff appearance.
- “We wanted to experience and photograph the cathedrals across all four seasons, but we also wanted to capture different liturgical seasons,” he told OSV News.